Coroner: Deceased infant had been dead for nearly a year

The deceased infant found by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office while serving an eviction notice in Fountain Inn on Monday had been dead for nearly a year, according to Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols.

Nichols said the fetal remains are at least 38 weeks gestational age and decomposition of the remains are consistent with a time period of 10 to 11 months since death.

"Due to decompostional change, cause and manner of death, as well as to the sex of the fetus are unable to be determined," said Nichols.

Nichols also said that a determination could not be made as to whether it was a live birth or a still birth.

Deputies with the LCSO were serving an eviction notice at Fountain Hill Apts. near Chapman Road just after 1pm on Sept. 18. According to Chief Deputy Jarvis Reeder, when deputies entered the apartment, they located a deceased infant. The infant was found in a sealed storage container.

The LCSO turned the investigation over to the Fountain Inn Police Dept. Despite the fact that Fountain Hills is located inside the city limits of Fountain Inn, Reeder said the LCSO civil process unit serves all eviction notices inside of Laurens County.